British ‘Baby Boomer’ women (55-75 year olds) are the most reliable shift workers as they clock in late the least, with 99 per cent of work shifts started on time. On the other hand, American ‘Generation Z’ women (18-24 year olds) are the most likely to be late, with only 81 per cent of shifts started on time.
The report includes analysis of over two million UK shifts between March 2018 and March 2019 to manage scheduling, timesheets and payroll.
Key findings from the research, which shows trends of shift workers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, include:
On average, 52 per cent of British hourly-paid workers were not on time to work, arriving late for their shift at least once last year. Hourly shift workers in Scotland were the least punctual in the UK with over two thirds (69 per cent) of employees clocking in late to at least one shift in the 12 month period. On the flip side, Wales was the top performer in punctuality with almost three quarters (73 per cent) clocking in early for at least one shift in the past year. Friday, 14 December 2018 was the day Brits were latest to work – was Christmas party season simply a coincidence? With spring on the way, Monday, 4 March 2019 was the day British workers were earliest to work. Following the Christmas festivities, Brits kicked off 2019 lacking punctuality and were the most late to work in January 2019 compared to international counterparts in Australia and the US. However, things quickly improved with February 2019 being the month when hourly-paid workers were the most early to work. When comparing across generations, male Millennials are most likely to be late for work with over three quarters (76 per cent) late to work at least once during the last calendar year. Globally, punctuality declined towards the end of the working week with hourly-paid workers across the UK, Australia and the US, clocking in on average the latest on Fridays.
David Kelly, General Manager for EMEA at Deputy, commented on the findings:
In the UK, we depend on shift workers for a huge range of services, particularly in the hospitality, retail and healthcare sectors. But for British businesses, both large and small, managing complex shifts and tracking hours worked can be difficult and time-consuming. Employees who run even slightly late can seriously disrupt the day-to-day operations of these businesses, as well as impact fellow team members who have to cover for their colleagues. Whilst this report focuses on the management challenges of staff running late, businesses also need to ensure compliance by avoiding inaccuracies in payroll.
Chris Byrne, General Manager at London shopping and dining destination Boxpark said,
Our success since launching in 2011 has been underpinned by employing hourly-paid team members. It’s the perfect fit for our business, given the number of staff we need will vary dependent on the days of the week, the time of year and key local events. There are often good reasons for people running late, but when it does happen, it can be a distraction from our day-to-day operations.
Interested in employee performance management? We recommend the Re-engineering Performance Management training day.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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